Trace Faulkner’s latest album, Dead Planets, is a captivating sonic journey that blends science fiction storytelling with deeply personal reflections on past relationships. Co-written by Faulkner and Benjamin Stranger, this concept album follows an astronaut as they navigate the wreckage of love lost, analyzing failed and abandoned relationships through a cosmic lens. The result is a mesmerizing, genre-blurring work that is as introspective as it is otherworldly.
Faulkner, a multi-instrumentalist based in Old Hickory, TN, recorded Dead Planets primarily in his home office studio, playing most of the instruments himself. Stranger contributed electric guitar, helping shape the album’s immersive and expansive soundscape. Drawing inspiration from legendary acts like Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), Sparklehorse, Sixteen Deluxe, and Galaxie 500, Faulkner weaves together dreamy textures, dynamic vocal harmonies, and futuristic synth elements into a sonic tapestry that is both nostalgic and refreshingly original.
The album opens with the spellbinding Prelude, an atmospheric introduction that sets the stage for the voyage ahead. Rising synths create an evocative, futuristic soundscape while a robotic voice welcomes listeners into this new world, instantly immersing them in the album’s sci-fi narrative. Next comes Innerstellar Heartbreak, a standout track featuring steady drumming, intricate guitar riffs, and Faulkner’s warm, charismatic vocals. The song perfectly fuses pop-rock sensibilities with layered harmonies and futuristic synth effects, showcasing Faulkner’s impressive artistic range and attention to sonic detail.
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As the journey continues, the album delivers a series of musical gems, each offering a unique emotional and sonic experience, such as Talking Tough, a rhythmic and emotive piece that dives into themes of vulnerability and resilience, and Mutineer, an energetic and bold track infused with an electrifying presence. Fall For Love is an intense exploration of longing and romantic complexity, followed by the intriguing Truth Gets In Your Eyes with its memorable sound architectures and brilliant instrumentation.
Then it’s the time for Rest of the Space, a deeply introspective piece that evokes solitude and contemplation in the vastness of the universe. The album’s grand finale, On the Wave, features stunning piano melodies and ethereal vocal arrangements that bring the journey to a hauntingly beautiful conclusion.
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Faulkner’s music is distinguished by his ability to craft multi-layered sonic landscapes that feel both intimate and cinematic. From the porch-side storytelling of his 2024 EP Six Sixteen to the heart-wrenching The Punchline (2020), Faulkner has demonstrated a remarkable ability to shift between genres while maintaining his signature storytelling and intricate harmonic architecture. Dead Planets stands as his most ambitious work yet, pushing the boundaries of his sound while maintaining the deeply personal songwriting that makes his music so compelling.
Whether you’re a fan of conceptual storytelling, innovative production, or deeply felt lyricism, this album offers something special. As listeners embark on this sci-fi-infused musical voyage, they will find themselves not only immersed in Faulkner’s sonic universe but also reflecting on their own experiences of love, loss, and the unknown.
Check the links below, discover more about Trace Faulkner and his music, and remember to add his songs to your favorite playlists!
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